Comments on: Discussions Along the Way - 1 http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/ Making Him Our Focus, His Word Our Foundation Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:23:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Jenny Watson http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-6364 Jenny Watson Wed, 25 Jul 2007 06:52:23 +0000 http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-6364 Well, I'm nice and full now after reading my brother's and sister's very kool testimonys... I have to say us crew on the Sunny Coast are enjoying some sweet times in God's presence since we were all SO encouraged and challenged by the Goldy crew!!! The Lord is bringing hungry people in from everywhere as we meet whenever we can with no agenda, just a longing to go deeper with Jesus and eachother!!! I love how everyone has parts of God's Character that's been cultivated in their lives over time, and when we all share,and hang out around His table... God gets bigger, and our lives are richer for it....Love you all Well, I’m nice and full now after reading my brother’s and sister’s very kool testimonys… I have to say us crew on the Sunny Coast are enjoying some sweet times in God’s presence since we were all SO encouraged and challenged by the Goldy crew!!! The Lord is bringing hungry people in from everywhere as we meet whenever we can with no agenda, just a longing to go deeper with Jesus and eachother!!! I love how everyone has parts of God’s Character that’s been cultivated in their lives over time, and when we all share,and hang out around His table… God gets bigger, and our lives are richer for it….Love you all

]]> By: Gale http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-6026 Gale Fri, 13 Jul 2007 04:04:57 +0000 http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-6026 I can lookback over my life and see that EVERYTHING was working for my good, and for His glory, regardless of if it made sense or not to my natural mind. For I have witnessed Him at work, and stand in Awe of His faithfulness! He is preparing the Body of Christ, The Church, and no man shall touch it!!! I began my journey in the main stream "christiandom" that most know as "church" when I was a child, at 12 years of age in 1974, I gave my life to Christ, and was baptized. Because of where I was as a child surrounded by physical, mental and sexual abuse, the Lord had compassion on me, as He saw how I hungered for love and acceptance, and could find it no where in this world, for He was ready to take me in His ever loving arms, and for thisI am forever grateful. Although at that time I was ignorant of truth, I knew, that He had come and met me where I was and so began my journey. Many stumbling blocks along the way, and wonderings had come and gone. And, when I became an adult, my hunger to know Him grew, I became involved in church and home meetings and spent much time alone with Father. In 1985, He revealed to me, who He is, and yet I lacked so much understanding of the whole plan that one day He would reveal to me. I have been involved with the main stream "church" most of my life, up until 2001. Even in the midst of this God delivered me from demonic spirits in which I had no clue I had, and this happened in my home, with just the Lord , my daughter (15) and I present. I fell to my knees one day and cried out to Him, and He came and ran many demons out of me. I heard them scream as they went; many terrible and loud screams. After that, I had stepped into another world, I was free, truely free! After this, when I went back to church the following Sunday, only then did I realize how dead the "church" was that I had been attending, if fact, I now saw that it was being controlled by demons. I came back the following Sunday, and as I sat listening to the dead sermon, the Lord spoke to me, and told me to go ask the preacher if I can share a word. I wrestled with the Lord for a bit, and He spoke more sternly to me. It was not in my nature to be bold (at that time), or to do such a thing, but the Lord persuaded me and I went. I can testify, that the Lord can move a person to go against their nature and to act in obedience. Who am I to argue with the Lord, yes, Lord I will do it! Nothing was premeditated, I had no clue as to what would be said, i just obeyed. The preacher permitted me to speak, and I must tell you; when I hit that pulpit, and and opened my Bible, I, Gale, "checked out" (if I may use that term, I cannot even explain it) and the Holy Spirit took over. It was severe, a hard word, but afterwards, it was apparent and sad to say, that only a handful received that word. The preacher, with a red face of anger, and others sitting in the pews were irrate with me, and they did not look at me the same after that. They were very rude and ugly towards me after that. Then a few weeks later the Lord gave me a word of warning just for that preacher, in which, I wrestled again with the Lord, because it was a hard word, but nevertheless, I obeyed the Lord and gave the word to him, after everyone had left. And the preacher withstood me, and rebuked me, and was even more angry with me, with a red face. The following Sunday, in the middle of the service, the Lord told me and my husband and also another couple to leave at once, and the Lord said, "Icabod" (The glory of the Lord has departed) is written on it's doors. A little while after that, I received word that people began to become physically sick and some died in that church and it slowly emptied out. The more "churches" I attended, the more of the world and satanic forces I witnessed at work, ripping apart the congregations. Not to say all are as such, but from what I have witnessed myself. I even visited a few last year, and the world had taken over. In 2001 I left the main stream "church" system, and the Lord told me He was taking me into the wilderness. So into the wilderness I went dragging my feet at first and whinning and whimpering like a spoiled brat along the way. But it was there that I learned obedience through the things that I had to suffer, (through much suffering we shall enter into the kingdom of God) not knowing at first, it was all working for my good. The first two years, I went through the "woe is me", poor little me syndrome, the flesh was whinning because it was being stripped. I thank God for the chastening of the Lord! I thank God for the purging process that is vital for our spiritual growth! I have only learned over the last year and a half, how significant His work is in the believers life. He has literally been stripping me of the stinking flesh and all attractions and attachments it has to this world and it's ways, and system. The wilderness and the way of the cross is by no means the easy route, but surely the only way to truth and life. It will either break you or make you. It is better to be obedient to the Lord, instead of man. The Lord santifies, sets apart, purges, and commissions His people; no man can do this, only Father! No seminar, or training can take you where God can, nor teach you what God can. No man can make a new man, only Father can!! It is a good thing to be broken, without brokeness, there is no repair. An old dusty vessel stands on an old dusty mantle as the maid, dusting, accidently bumps it with the duster, and tries to catch it as it falls to the floor. The vessel shatters, as it hits the floor. The maid in anxiety runs to the utility room to find some glue, to piece the shattered vessel back together, before the Master of the House returns. Quickly she glues piece by piece, until each piece is in place. And then she notices that there are some fine pieces missing, and she looks to the floor to find that the fragments that were missing were nothing but dust on the floor. As she bends down to sweep the dust into her hands, she hears the knob on the front door rattle, and in comes the master of the house. Apologizing to the master of the house as he approaches. He kindly calms her, as he observes the vessel that had been poorly placed together by the maids hands. Assuring her not to worry, as he told her that he was a Master Potter, and that the vessel was in dire need of repair. He picked up the marred vessel, and invited the maid to come, as he went into the basement, where an old Potter's wheel was. He placed the marred vessel in an old tan towell, folding it over, as the maid watched. He then grabbed a rubber malate and then gently begin to pound, to rebrake the vessel into powder. The maid, in shock, exclaimed, the vessel is ruined moreso now that it is crushed. The Master replied, no, watch and see, for it most go through a process to be useful to make it into a new vessel. After he crushed it with the malate, he emptied it into a sifter, and began sifting and re-sifting until it was fine, and then poured the clay dust into a pot, Then in it he poured water, and he begin to stir it briskly over and over again, until it was smooth. He then emptied the pot of mushy clay onto the potters wheel. Then he begin to knead and turn it over several times, applying pressure to make the clay smooth. Then he turned the potter's wheel, spinning as he begin to knead the clay and draw it up, knead it and push it down, knead it and draw it up, smoothing it out and shaping and reshaping it into a form. After a little while he was satisfied with the vessel he had formed. He then, told the maid, that, this is all the work for now, for tommorrow I will come again to continue the work. He told her that the vessel must dry before he could complete the process. The next day the maid arrived early, for she was curious to see the final work on the new vessel. So off went the master and the maid, back down to the basement to continue the work on the vessel. He gently picked up the vessel and set it on the table, and pulled up his chair. He grabbed a brush and some glaze and begin to paint glaze on the dry vessel. The maid surprised, asked why apply such glaze, for it was dull and kind of ugly and made the vessel look worse. The master assured her that the work was still not finished. There still remained a process to make the form into a useful vessel. The maid watched in silence as he fanned the wet vessel, so the glaze would dry, and after a while he picked up the dry vessel and placed it in a kiln. The maid curious' asked him to explain, he then told her that the vessel must be cooked in the heat of the kiln for some hours to make it useful, and complete. He then set the timer and called it a day. The next day, again the maid arrived early, to see the finshed piece, but when she and the master arrived in the basement she learned, that the process was not over. The master took the vessel from the kiln, and set it on the table, and the maid was surprised, exclaiming "how pretty". To her dismay, the master replied, for it is not finished, do not let the beauty fool you, yet the vessel was still weak. So again he took a brush and a jar of paint, this time it appeared worse, from that ugly colored glaze. He assured her again, not to judge the work before complete, though it is dull, useless and bleak. Again in the fire, the heat of the kiln, the master placed the vessel after he had fanned it dry. Another day of work on the vessel lie ahead, for now they were finished for the day and left the basement to rest. The next day the same process, but with a different color of glaze that appeared even worse then those of at first. He informed the maid that this was the last process to complete the work, and assured her that tommorrow, she would see a beautiful vessel shinny and new, sturdy and useful, to be of good use. Excitedly and early again the maid came, curious to see the new vessel in it's last stage. Down into the basement they went, and as she watched the master potter gently bring the vessel out of the kiln, her eyes were amazed at the beautifl vessel, shinny, bright and useful. He carried the vessel upstairs and filled it with water, and asked the maid to gather some flowers from the flower bed outside. There on the masters kitchen table sat that beautiful finished vessel, shiny and bright, full of beautiful flowers, that lit up the room. And with this new vessel, the master was satisfied. The vessel represents every believers life who submits to the Master potter. The maid represents mans way of mending or repairing; man can try to repair, but cannot fix what is broken. The Master Potter is the Lord, only He can fixe what is broken, and make it more beautiful and useful, than man can imagine. I hope I did not take up too much space. "Unless the Lord build the House, those who labor, labor in vain" All for Jesus, All glory to Him! Gale I can lookback over my life and see that EVERYTHING was working for my good, and for His glory, regardless of if it made sense or not to my natural mind. For I have witnessed Him at work, and stand in Awe of His faithfulness! He is preparing the Body of Christ, The Church, and no man shall touch it!!!

I began my journey in the main stream “christiandom” that most know as “church” when I was a child, at 12 years of age in 1974, I gave my life to Christ, and was baptized. Because of where I was as a child surrounded by physical, mental and sexual abuse, the Lord had compassion on me, as He saw how I hungered for love and acceptance, and could find it no where in this world, for He was ready to take me in His ever loving arms, and for thisI am forever grateful. Although at that time I was ignorant of truth, I knew, that He had come and met me where I was and so began my journey.

Many stumbling blocks along the way, and wonderings had come and gone. And, when I became an adult, my hunger to know Him grew, I became involved in church and home meetings and spent much time alone with Father. In 1985, He revealed to me, who He is, and yet I lacked so much understanding of the whole plan that one day He would reveal to me.

I have been involved with the main stream “church” most of my life, up until
2001. Even in the midst of this God delivered me from demonic spirits in which I had no clue I had, and this happened in my home, with just the Lord , my daughter (15) and I present. I fell to my knees one day and cried out to Him, and He came and ran many demons out of me. I heard them scream as they went; many terrible and loud screams. After that, I had stepped into another world, I was free, truely free!
After this, when I went back to church the following Sunday, only then did I realize how dead the “church” was that I had been attending, if fact, I now saw that it was being controlled by demons. I came back the following Sunday, and as I sat listening to the dead sermon, the Lord spoke to me, and told me to go ask the preacher if I can share a word. I wrestled with the Lord for a bit, and He spoke more sternly to me. It was not in my nature to be bold (at that time), or to do such a thing, but the Lord persuaded me and I went. I can testify, that the Lord can move a person to go against their nature and to act in obedience. Who am I to argue with the Lord, yes, Lord I will do it! Nothing was premeditated, I had no clue as to what would be said, i just obeyed.

The preacher permitted me to speak, and I must tell you; when I hit that pulpit, and and opened my Bible, I, Gale, “checked out” (if I may use that term, I cannot even explain it) and the Holy Spirit took over. It was severe, a hard word, but afterwards, it was apparent and sad to say, that only a handful received that word. The preacher, with a red face of anger, and others sitting in the pews were irrate with me, and they did not look at me the same after that. They were very rude and ugly towards me after that.
Then a few weeks later the Lord gave me a word of warning just for that preacher, in which, I wrestled again with the Lord, because it was a hard word, but nevertheless, I obeyed the Lord and gave the word to him, after everyone had left. And the preacher withstood me, and rebuked me, and was even more angry with me, with a red face. The following Sunday, in the middle of the service, the Lord told me and my husband and also another couple to leave at once, and the Lord said, “Icabod” (The glory of the Lord has departed) is written on it’s doors. A little while after that, I received word that people began to become physically sick and some died in that church and it slowly emptied out.

The more “churches” I attended, the more of the world and satanic forces I witnessed at work, ripping apart the congregations. Not to say all are as such, but from what I have witnessed myself. I even visited a few last year, and the world had taken over. In 2001 I left the main stream “church” system, and the Lord told me He was taking me into the wilderness.

So into the wilderness I went dragging my feet at first and whinning and whimpering like a spoiled brat along the way. But it was there that I learned obedience through the things that I had to suffer, (through much suffering we shall enter into the kingdom of God) not knowing at first, it was all working for my good. The first two years, I went through the “woe is me”, poor little me syndrome, the flesh was whinning because it was being stripped. I thank God for the chastening of the Lord! I thank God for the purging process that is vital for our spiritual growth! I have only learned over the last year and a half, how significant His work is in the believers life. He has literally been stripping me of the stinking flesh and all attractions and attachments it has to this world and it’s ways, and system. The wilderness and the way of the cross is by no means the easy route, but surely the only way to truth and life. It will either break you or make you. It is better to be obedient to the Lord, instead of man.

The Lord santifies, sets apart, purges, and commissions His people; no man can do this, only Father! No seminar, or training can take you where God can, nor teach you what God can. No man can make a new man, only Father can!!

It is a good thing to be broken, without brokeness, there is no repair.

An old dusty vessel stands on an old dusty mantle as the maid, dusting, accidently bumps it with the duster, and tries to catch it as it falls to the floor. The vessel shatters, as it hits the floor. The maid in anxiety runs to the utility room to find some glue, to piece the shattered vessel back together, before the Master of the House returns. Quickly she glues piece by piece, until each piece is in place. And then she notices that there are some fine pieces missing, and she looks to the floor to find that the fragments that were missing were nothing but dust on the floor. As she bends down to sweep the dust into her hands, she hears the knob on the front door rattle, and in comes the master of the house. Apologizing to the master of the house as he approaches. He kindly calms her, as he observes the vessel that had been poorly placed together by the maids hands. Assuring her not to worry, as he told her that he was a Master Potter, and that the vessel was in dire need of repair. He picked up the marred vessel, and invited the maid to come, as he went into the basement, where an old Potter’s wheel was. He placed the marred vessel in an old tan towell, folding it over, as the maid watched. He then grabbed a rubber malate and then gently begin to pound, to rebrake the vessel into powder.
The maid, in shock, exclaimed, the vessel is ruined moreso now that it is crushed. The Master replied, no, watch and see, for it most go through a process to be useful to make it into a new vessel. After he crushed it with the malate, he emptied it into a sifter, and began sifting and re-sifting until it was fine, and then poured the clay dust into a pot, Then in it he poured water, and he begin to stir it briskly over and over again, until it was smooth. He then emptied the pot of mushy clay onto the potters wheel. Then he begin to knead and turn it over several times, applying pressure to make the clay smooth. Then he turned the potter’s wheel, spinning as he begin to knead the clay and draw it up, knead it and push it down, knead it and draw it up, smoothing it out and shaping and reshaping it into a form. After a little while he was satisfied with the vessel he had formed. He then, told the maid, that, this is all the work for now, for tommorrow I will come again to continue the work. He told her that the vessel must dry before he could complete the process.

The next day the maid arrived early, for she was curious to see the final work on the new vessel. So off went the master and the maid, back down to the basement to continue the work on the vessel. He gently picked up the vessel and set it on the table, and pulled up his chair. He grabbed a brush and some glaze and begin to paint glaze on the dry vessel. The maid surprised, asked why apply such glaze, for it was dull and kind of ugly and made the vessel look worse. The master assured her that the work was still not finished. There still remained a process to make the form into a useful vessel. The maid watched in silence as he fanned the wet vessel, so the glaze would dry, and after a while he picked up the dry vessel and placed it in a kiln. The maid curious’ asked him to explain, he then told her that the vessel must be cooked in the heat of the kiln for some hours to make it useful, and complete. He then set the timer and called it a day.

The next day, again the maid arrived early, to see the finshed piece, but when she and the master arrived in the basement she learned, that the process was not over. The master took the vessel from the kiln, and set it on the table, and the maid was surprised, exclaiming “how pretty”. To her dismay, the master replied, for it is not finished, do not let the beauty fool you, yet the vessel was still weak. So again he took a brush and a jar of paint, this time it appeared worse, from that ugly colored glaze. He assured her again, not to judge the work before complete, though it is dull, useless and bleak. Again in the fire, the heat of the kiln, the master placed the vessel after he had fanned it dry. Another day of work on the vessel lie ahead, for now they were finished for the day and left the basement to rest.

The next day the same process, but with a different color of glaze that appeared even worse then those of at first. He informed the maid that this was the last process to complete the work, and assured her that tommorrow, she would see a beautiful vessel shinny and new, sturdy and useful, to be of good use. Excitedly and early again the maid came, curious to see the new vessel in it’s last stage. Down into the basement they went, and as she watched the master potter gently bring the vessel out of the kiln, her eyes were amazed at the beautifl vessel, shinny, bright and useful. He carried the vessel upstairs and filled it with water, and asked the maid to gather some flowers from the flower bed outside.
There on the masters kitchen table sat that beautiful finished vessel, shiny and bright, full of beautiful flowers, that lit up the room. And with this new vessel, the master was satisfied.

The vessel represents every believers life who submits to the Master potter.

The maid represents mans way of mending or repairing; man can try to repair, but cannot fix what is broken.

The Master Potter is the Lord, only He can fixe what is broken, and make it more beautiful and useful, than man can imagine.

I hope I did not take up too much space.

“Unless the Lord build the House, those who labor, labor in vain”

All for Jesus, All glory to Him!

Gale

]]> By: Tom Sparks http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-5221 Tom Sparks Sat, 23 Jun 2007 20:51:39 +0000 http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-5221 Davo, Ah...now yur makin me jealous! Sounds like great times in Him. Life lived "in Him, through Him, by Him, and about Him," is such rich life. The delicacies of heaven, received in such times beats anything the worldly systems of man could ever dish out. In God's timing I will visit you brothers! I know I will. I'm blessed by your friendship! Tom (Sparko) Davo,

Ah…now yur makin me jealous!

Sounds like great times in Him. Life lived “in Him, through Him, by Him, and about Him,” is such rich life. The delicacies of heaven, received in such times beats anything the worldly systems of man could ever dish out.

In God’s timing I will visit you brothers! I know I will. I’m blessed by your friendship!

Tom (Sparko)

]]> By: davemurray http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-4049 davemurray Sat, 19 May 2007 02:01:10 +0000 http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-4049 Amen 2 that, brother Sparko!!! How goods the LORD!!! We ( Bretto, Stevo, Me) just got back from edifying the saints on the Sunny Coast for a few days! How good was it 2 see hungry crew who are far more into the spiritual Jesus than the fake, institutional Jesus and wanting to know more about how to hook up with pure Gospel crew and just froth on Him alone!!!!!!!(after only a few days i'm starting 2 talk like Stevo!) I've been involved with PLENTY of so-called Gospel out-reaches and never did my heart ever truly feel like we were building something worthy, something eternal, something which has no need to be ashamed of itself because of either its silly ineffectivenes or the fact it was just trying 2 build up its own kingdom... It is so good 2 hook up with crew and have NO hidden agendas - to be truly there 2 HELP them and encourage them. And not only 2 minister but to be MINISTERED TO!!! We were'nt popes riding in on white stallions to save the day, charging fees or demanding membership sign-up. We were just crew who (a) wanted to stoke on what God was already doing up there, but also (b) to share the encouraging insights, wisdom, theological backing and practical insights that God has so graciously made available to us (albeit Steve and myself in a more supportive role). Yesterday ave - we hooked up with Steve and Amanda, Jenny and Dave Orton in Caloundra. After an ave of lunch and fellowship, we grabbed a guitar and worshipped the Lord for a half hour or so, punctuated with various sharings and prophetic prayers and unctions. The presence of the Lord was so flippin awessome! He gathered there with the 7 of us in a powerful way that could be ended in no other way than just 5-10 minutes of pure awed silence. I had 2 ask............."Is anybody missing 'church' yet?" The only worthy response to that silly question was a handful of amused giggles...................enough said! Amen 2 that, brother Sparko!!!

How goods the LORD!!! We ( Bretto, Stevo, Me) just got back from edifying the saints on the Sunny Coast for a few days! How good was it 2 see hungry crew who are far more into the spiritual Jesus than the fake, institutional Jesus and wanting to know more about how to hook up with pure Gospel crew and just froth on Him alone!!!!!!!(after only a few days i’m starting 2 talk like Stevo!)

I’ve been involved with PLENTY of so-called Gospel out-reaches and never did my heart ever truly feel like we were building something worthy, something eternal, something which has no need to be ashamed of itself because of either its silly ineffectivenes or the fact it was just trying 2 build up its own kingdom…

It is so good 2 hook up with crew and have NO hidden agendas - to be truly there 2 HELP them and encourage them. And not only 2 minister but to be MINISTERED TO!!! We were’nt popes riding in on white stallions to save the day, charging fees or demanding membership sign-up. We were just crew who (a) wanted to stoke on what God was already doing up there, but also (b) to share the encouraging insights, wisdom, theological backing and practical insights that God has so graciously made available to us (albeit Steve and myself in a more supportive role).

Yesterday ave - we hooked up with Steve and Amanda, Jenny and Dave Orton in Caloundra. After an ave of lunch and fellowship, we grabbed a guitar and worshipped the Lord for a half hour or so, punctuated with various sharings and prophetic prayers and unctions. The presence of the Lord was so flippin awessome! He gathered there with the 7 of us in a powerful way that could be ended in no other way than just 5-10 minutes of pure awed silence. I had 2 ask………….”Is anybody missing ‘church’ yet?”

The only worthy response to that silly question was a handful of amused giggles……………….enough said!

]]> By: Tom Sparks http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-4039 Tom Sparks Thu, 17 May 2007 22:40:59 +0000 http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-4039 Being involved in simple participatory gathering never ceases to amaze me. Each time we gather, either in conscious prayer or just as a part of who we have become in Him, our cry is that He will work His edifying magic in our midst once again, and every single time He does it. One has a song, a testimony, a scripture, a prophecy, an exhortation...all woven in some divine theme the Lord has in mind for us for our gathering, and each, without coming with a preplanned agenda for what that theme will be or how it will play out. I have had many, over the years, ask me, how we avoid our gatherings of this nature just being a “pooling of ignorance?” I’m amazed at the unspoken assumption, that when Jesus promised, what He promised in John 14 and 16, He couldn’t make good His promise: John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 16:13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” Our overwhelming testimony is that He has done it, over and over and over again. I’m not suggesting that study, scholarship, and sound exegesis, has no place in the fellowship of believers, but it is exciting to know that He is not limited to communicating accurately and edifyingly through just the folks who are capable of this. Therefore, very pragmatically, we have learned that usurping His authority over His House and His flock is a very unwise and unnecessary thing to do. He’s actually very good at what He promised He would do. Amazing...! Being involved in simple participatory gathering never ceases to amaze me.

Each time we gather, either in conscious prayer or just as a part of who we have become in Him, our cry is that He will work His edifying magic in our midst once again, and every single time He does it.

One has a song, a testimony, a scripture, a prophecy, an exhortation…all woven in some divine theme the Lord has in mind for us for our gathering, and each, without coming with a preplanned agenda for what that theme will be or how it will play out.

I have had many, over the years, ask me, how we avoid our gatherings of this nature just being a “pooling of ignorance?” I’m amazed at the unspoken assumption, that when Jesus promised, what He promised in John 14 and 16, He couldn’t make good His promise:

John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

John 16:13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”

Our overwhelming testimony is that He has done it, over and over and over again. I’m not suggesting that study, scholarship, and sound exegesis, has no place in the fellowship of believers, but it is exciting to know that He is not limited to communicating accurately and edifyingly through just the folks who are capable of this.

Therefore, very pragmatically, we have learned that usurping His authority over His House and His flock is a very unwise and unnecessary thing to do. He’s actually very good at what He promised He would do.

Amazing…!

]]> By: Jared C http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-3741 Jared C Mon, 23 Apr 2007 09:47:11 +0000 http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-3741 I didnt know that much about being a leader in a church (cos i wasnt one) but I did know alot about sitting and feeling useless on a Sunday. These days I feel much more used by God (though I know He always has more). I guess the Lord gives those of us 'in the pews' a choice to listen to Him or listen to others opinions of Him. What I have been learning of late is that perhaps the 'highest' calling of Jesus in His church is the calling of the bond-slave. This calling has at its core a focus on relationship with our Lord, Brother and Friend and on top of this in Matthew 22 it is the 'bondslaves' of Christ that are calling people to the wedding feast. It is always so good to meet other crew who just love hanging out with the Lord and each other. One thing I love to do much more since dropping a structure is get to know my Lord in the secret place, He said thats where He is (Matt 6) so thats where we should find Him. I pray I would choose the Spiritual over the natural on a daily basis. JC I didnt know that much about being a leader in a church (cos i wasnt one) but I did know alot about sitting and feeling useless on a Sunday. These days I feel much more used by God (though I know He always has more). I guess the Lord gives those of us ‘in the pews’ a choice to listen to Him or listen to others opinions of Him.

What I have been learning of late is that perhaps the ‘highest’ calling of Jesus in His church is the calling of the bond-slave. This calling has at its core a focus on relationship with our Lord, Brother and Friend and on top of this in Matthew 22 it is the ‘bondslaves’ of Christ that are calling people to the wedding feast. It is always so good to meet other crew who just love hanging out with the Lord and each other.

One thing I love to do much more since dropping a structure is get to know my Lord in the secret place, He said thats where He is (Matt 6) so thats where we should find Him. I pray I would choose the Spiritual over the natural on a daily basis.

JC

]]> By: jimbot http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-3739 jimbot Mon, 23 Apr 2007 07:30:00 +0000 http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-3739 God is shifting my way of thinking out of the organisation and into the organism. I've seen a deeper intimacy with Jesus and with other believers, especially my wife. I've had my eyes opened to truth, not as i want to see it but as it is, as my Father presents it. God has confronted me head on over my religious ways, asking me wether I want christian duty or eternal life. All of these good things have shown me Gods love and grace experientially rather than theoretically. Thanks Peas and Gravy. God is shifting my way of thinking out of the organisation and into the organism. I’ve seen a deeper intimacy with Jesus and with other believers, especially my wife. I’ve had my eyes opened to truth, not as i want to see it but as it is, as my Father presents it. God has confronted me head on over my religious ways, asking me wether I want christian duty or eternal life. All of these good things have shown me Gods love and grace experientially rather than theoretically.

Thanks

Peas and Gravy.

]]> By: Michael http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-3737 Michael Mon, 23 Apr 2007 05:52:05 +0000 http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-3737 Let me share one of the greatest reforms, paradime shifts or changes God has implimented in my life of late. For 8 years I have been an Ordfained Minister preacvhing, teaching and most importantly serving for churches in Australia and New Zealand which has been an amazing experience. Along the way i started to have a mindset that Sunday was the most importand day of the week and I started to focus and impliment this day to be my day of doing ministry and serving people and only later did i realise, to the detriment of the 6 other days of the week and all the interactions i had with people during these days, all were beoming subordinate to the sunday meetings. Recently i have been going a journey with God mostly with my heart being broken and changed learning that Gods divinity is in the daily and whichever day He chooses emcompassing whichever brother and sister he chooses. Emperor Constatine implimented a day of rest for people wether Roman, Gentile and Jew in accordance to the day pagans were using for the worship of one of their gods, the sun god, thus sunday was used for rest and worship for all people. Christians adopted this day, as previously they had been persecuted rutheslessly ,and this opportunity to have their day, as their Sabbath in peace was much welcomed. The traditional sunday of worship continues, to which i both take part of and welcome as a sabbath, but not to exclude God on the other days. More and more im learning that God and His service on monday is as important as His service on sunday or for any day in fact. This journey has led me to another understanding, whilst painful in the paradime shift and liberating in its effect: every gathering with two or more people with the agenda of 'His name' to me is church. I was of the believe that church or doing church was on sundays, a few worship songs a word preached and an opportunity for people to give and serve in their giftings on that day at that churches geographical location ( this is not a degerogatory relfection of my thoughts regarding how churchs are run of facilitated, this is my particular revelation and is not stated to be demeaning to anyone or any ministry). God has shown me just as written in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 18 if any two meet in My name i am present. In any church service the stimulus or defining attribute is the presence of God. Im learning that this can happen every time i meet with someone in the name of God. All of a sudden my thoughts on church and how it looks in radically reformed for the better, Easter Sunday on North Burleigh Hill ( one of Gods greatest church locations i believe ) with a few people reading Johns account of the death and ressurection of our Lord is church eating Easter buns and rrinking coffee, sitting on a mountain with a mate talking about God and church, reading with my son and wife from His word each night is church. Church is not an address or location, not a way or formula of how meet. To me church is two or more people meeting together regardless of where in His name. Now i have church every time i talk with a brother or sister in the faith regardless of where and when, i see peoples gifting come out and acted upon seemingly naturally not in a formula or on a cue. I see a freedom in people meeting as the 'called out ones' (the correct meaning of Church within biblical language) in small groups and large with more power, conviction and liberty. Thank God he is the God of yesterday, today and tomorrow and is in the habit of reshaping our be;iefs and traditions to liberate us and bring us closer to him and push all the stuff of no conseuence out of the way. To the glory of Him. Gob bless you in the daily and He meets with you every day in every way with His greatest creation: humanity. Let me share one of the greatest reforms, paradime shifts or changes God has implimented in my life of late.
For 8 years I have been an Ordfained Minister preacvhing, teaching and most importantly serving for churches in Australia and New Zealand which has been an amazing experience. Along the way i started to have a mindset that Sunday was the most importand day of the week and I started to focus and impliment this day to be my day of doing ministry and serving people and only later did i realise, to the detriment of the 6 other days of the week and all the interactions i had with people during these days, all were beoming subordinate to the sunday meetings.
Recently i have been going a journey with God mostly with my heart being broken and changed learning that Gods divinity is in the daily and whichever day He chooses emcompassing whichever brother and sister he chooses.
Emperor Constatine implimented a day of rest for people wether Roman, Gentile and Jew in accordance to the day pagans were using for the worship of one of their gods, the sun god, thus sunday was used for rest and worship for all people. Christians adopted this day, as previously they had been persecuted rutheslessly ,and this opportunity to have their day, as their Sabbath in peace was much welcomed.
The traditional sunday of worship continues, to which i both take part of and welcome as a sabbath, but not to exclude God on the other days.
More and more im learning that God and His service on monday is as important as His service on sunday or for any day in fact.
This journey has led me to another understanding, whilst painful in the paradime shift and liberating in its effect: every gathering with two or more people with the agenda of ‘His name’ to me is church. I was of the believe that church or doing church was on sundays, a few worship songs a word preached and an opportunity for people to give and serve in their giftings on that day at that churches geographical location ( this is not a degerogatory relfection of my thoughts regarding how churchs are run of facilitated, this is my particular revelation and is not stated to be demeaning to anyone or any ministry). God has shown me just as written in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 18 if any two meet in My name i am present. In any church service the stimulus or defining attribute is the presence of God. Im learning that this can happen every time i meet with someone in the name of God. All of a sudden my thoughts on church and how it looks in radically reformed for the better, Easter Sunday on North Burleigh Hill ( one of Gods greatest church locations i believe ) with a few people reading Johns account of the death and ressurection of our Lord is church eating Easter buns and rrinking coffee, sitting on a mountain with a mate talking about God and church, reading with my son and wife from His word each night is church. Church is not an address or location, not a way or formula of how meet. To me church is two or more people meeting together regardless of where in His name.
Now i have church every time i talk with a brother or sister in the faith regardless of where and when, i see peoples gifting come out and acted upon seemingly naturally not in a formula or on a cue. I see a freedom in people meeting as the ‘called out ones’ (the correct meaning of Church within biblical language) in small groups and large with more power, conviction and liberty.
Thank God he is the God of yesterday, today and tomorrow and is in the habit of reshaping our be;iefs and traditions to liberate us and bring us closer to him and push all the stuff of no conseuence out of the way.
To the glory of Him.
Gob bless you in the daily and He meets with you every day in every way with His greatest creation: humanity.

]]> By: Abe http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-3736 Abe Mon, 23 Apr 2007 05:51:50 +0000 http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-3736 I know where you’re coming from Bretto, for I am one who falls at the edges of the cliffs of Monarchical monologuing into procrastination, only to stagnate my faith. I am only activated if I become an active participant. This is the reality of the way we learn. When I studied teaching one of the techniques teachers apply in the classroom to help students retain information is for the student to teach another student what they have learnt, thus, class discussion. If we are going to live out the Living Word we must be taking what we have learnt and teaching others. This is a very practical form of fellowship. In a group setting this occurs more abundantly for it allows for expansion, amplification and reiteration of the Word. I also find in a group setting that the spirit is revealing profound truths because the spirit of the individual is engaged. The reason been if you are actively participating in discussion you are not receiving you are partaking. The dictionary definition for receiving is: To get something: to take or accept something given. The definition for partaking is: To participate: to share in or take part in something. Just like communion, it is one thing to receive communion it is another thing to partake in communion. Receiving communion is a taking action, completely consumed in self and what self gets i.e. a piece of bread and a sip of cordial. Partaking is becoming completely consumed in the representation of communion and entering into the fullness of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Similar action, different result. I challenge myself and those reading: how often are you just receiving? Are you like me and have said to yourself, “I will go along just to see what I can get out of it.” I am guilty of this notion and have had to learn be one who partakes which is - going along to take part of something greater and sharing in the blessing of it. Be blessed May I decrease so that he may increase. Abe I know where you’re coming from Bretto, for I am one who falls at the edges of the cliffs of Monarchical monologuing into procrastination, only to stagnate my faith. I am only activated if I become an active participant. This is the reality of the way we learn. When I studied teaching one of the techniques teachers apply in the classroom to help students retain information is for the student to teach another student what they have learnt, thus, class discussion. If we are going to live out the Living Word we must be taking what we have learnt and teaching others. This is a very practical form of fellowship. In a group setting this occurs more abundantly for it allows for expansion, amplification and reiteration of the Word. I also find in a group setting that the spirit is revealing profound truths because the spirit of the individual is engaged. The reason been if you are actively participating in discussion you are not receiving you are partaking.

The dictionary definition for receiving is: To get something: to take or accept something given.

The definition for partaking is: To participate: to share in or take part in something.

Just like communion, it is one thing to receive communion it is another thing to partake in communion. Receiving communion is a taking action, completely consumed in self and what self gets i.e. a piece of bread and a sip of cordial. Partaking is becoming completely consumed in the representation of communion and entering into the fullness of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

Similar action, different result.

I challenge myself and those reading: how often are you just receiving? Are you like me and have said to yourself, “I will go along just to see what I can get out of it.” I am guilty of this notion and have had to learn be one who partakes which is - going along to take part of something greater and sharing in the blessing of it.

Be blessed

May I decrease so that he may increase.

Abe

]]> By: Brett Jacobsen http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-3735 Brett Jacobsen Mon, 23 Apr 2007 03:52:44 +0000 http://www.christisall.org/2007/04/12/testimonies-from-the-journey-discussions-along-the-way/#comment-3735 Perhaps everyone is a bit gunshy with this? Or perhaps no-one's been transformed gloriously by the ongoing reformation power of God? I trust the former is the case. Anyway, I probably should get the ball rolling. I will be brief though. One of many aspects of Kingdom life and ministry that I am deeply grateful to the Lord for reforming in and around me is: the metamorphosis from Monarchical monologuing to daily dialoguing. Though I love to preach and teach, as well as live, the Word of God, I am deeply appreciative of the biblical/Holy Spirit shift to include "all" the believers in the teaching (dialegomai) of the Word. I see the Holy Spirit inspiring a fuller picture of God's revelation and current dealings through whoever is willing to participate. One person can teach good things from the Word, but a group of people who are together seeking God, willing to let Him speak and move through them all, enables a far more complete expression of Christ. I learn so much this way, even when I teach now because it's not just me contributing. We all chip in as the Spirit inspires. Thanks Lord! Bretto Perhaps everyone is a bit gunshy with this? Or perhaps no-one’s been transformed gloriously by the ongoing reformation power of God? I trust the former is the case.

Anyway, I probably should get the ball rolling. I will be brief though.

One of many aspects of Kingdom life and ministry that I am deeply grateful to the Lord for reforming in and around me is: the metamorphosis from Monarchical monologuing to daily dialoguing. Though I love to preach and teach, as well as live, the Word of God, I am deeply appreciative of the biblical/Holy Spirit shift to include “all” the believers in the teaching (dialegomai) of the Word. I see the Holy Spirit inspiring a fuller picture of God’s revelation and current dealings through whoever is willing to participate. One person can teach good things from the Word, but a group of people who are together seeking God, willing to let Him speak and move through them all, enables a far more complete expression of Christ. I learn so much this way, even when I teach now because it’s not just me contributing. We all chip in as the Spirit inspires.

Thanks Lord!

Bretto

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